High temperature reaction method

Abstract

A high temperature reaction apparatus for reacting on solid, liquid and gaseous materials to change their state and/or chemical compositions. High temperatures are generated within a reaction chamber by means of electrical energy applied to electrodes or other means for generating radiant energy. The radiant energy may be in one or more forms such as a beam or a plasma. In a preferred form, the apparatus is controlled by a master controller such as a computer which generates control signals applied to control the admission of a reaction material or materials to a reaction chamber, the operation of one or more electrical energy to radiant energy generating means and, in certain arrangements, the removal or products of the high temperature reaction from the reaction chamber. Controlled chemical and/or physical reactions may thus be effected under computer control to perform such functions as incineration, the production of select chemicals, the refining of metals, the comminuting of solids, the vaporization of solid materials or select portions thereof, the production of select gases from vapors and solid materials and the coating of surfaces by particulate and/or vapor deposition. The apparatus may also be operated to provide combinations of such processes in a single reaction chamber or in a series of chambers joined together for the sequential and continuous processing of solid, liquid, vaporous and/or gaseous matter fed per se or as a mixture or separate streams thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for effecting a reaction in a reaction chamber comprising: (a) feeding a plurality of reaction materials into a reaction chamber, including water;   (b) generating a high temperature plasma within said reaction chamber, said plasma causing a reaction of dissociating said water into products comprising hydrogen and oxygen atoms; and   (c) removing the products of the reaction from said reaction chamber;   wherein said feeding and generating of said temperature are effected under computer control.   
     
     
       2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of using one or more of said reaction products to fuel the plasma. 
     
     
       3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the step of generating includes the step of burning said hydrogen atoms. 
     
     
       4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the high temperature plasma is generated between electrodes. 
     
     
       5. A method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising the step of generating an electrical potential across said electrodes, which is controllably varied in voltage under the control of said computer. 
     
     
       6. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising using a radiation beam to heat said plurality of materials in said chamber.